Thursday, July 31, 2014

P90X3 - Week 5 (Eccentric Lower)

This week's been a tough one for me, mostly in finding motivation. I have been getting up early, eating a little bit, waiting for it to digest, and then doing my workout but this week I've found myself putting it off later and later in the day (For example, I JUST NOW finished today's workout, Lower Eccentric, and it's 6:30pm).
For whatever reason, I just haven't felt like doing it. I know they say it takes 21 days to make something a habit but apparently for me, it's a bit longer.
I have an accountability group I'm in with a couple of guys and they've really helped me push through this week. I felt like if I blew off just one workout, it would be easier to blow off the next and the next and I didn't want to do that to them. I'm super grateful for accountability groups and how they've helped me to keep pushing play.

That being said, I was really dreading today's workout mostly because I hate wall squats (and there hasn't been a Tony Horton workout day that focused on the lower body and DIDN'T have wall squats). Not only did this one NOT have the dreaded exercise, but I actually really enjoyed doing it. It was a really fun workout and usually leg day workouts are my least favorite. I finished the half hour excited and motivated and think I found my second (or twenty-second) wind.

Monday, July 28, 2014

P90X3 Week 5 (Eccentric Upper)

Well today not only began week 5 of P90X3 but also marks the longest I have worked out on a consecutive, consistent basis. Pretty stoked about it. 

Today's workout was Eccentric Upper, a sort of Push-Up/Pull-Up combo, but done slower, i.e. with a push-up you go down for 3 slow counts and then push up in one. Down in 3....up in 1. Never has doing 10 push-ups in a row been so exhausting.

If today was Eccentric Upper, then that means that Eccentric Lower is coming soon and that probably means wall squats, which also means I will be hating life soon.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

P90X3 Week 4 (Accelerator/Pilates X)

Still continuing my P90X3 "Recovery Week" although I don't know if that's the correct phrase. Yesterday was "Accelerator" which is basically freak-on cardio. I made it about 15 minutes (halfway!)

Today was Pilates X and was my first time ever doing any kind of Pilates class. I thought it was going to be similar to Yoga but instead it shredded up my core and scattered it around the house.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

P90X3 Week 4 (Dynamix)



Recovery week for P90X3, so this morning was Dyanmix stretching. Plus a nice couple-mile walk downtown is making for a nice day.

Monday, July 21, 2014

P90X3 Week 3/4 (Dynamix/Isometrix)

Yesterday was a stretch/rest day. Or at least it was supposed to be. I did the P90X3 Dynamix workout in the morning and then took the XBOX to a friends house where we played Raving Rabbids and Dance Central for a few hours and ended up a sweaty mess. 

This morning began Week 4 of P90X3 which means a change in the line-up, so it was my first time doing Isometrix, which is similar to Yoga in that you don't hardly move and still end up covered in sweat. It was cool!

Saturday, July 19, 2014

P90X3 - Week 3 (The Warrior)

Today was an interesting day, workout-wise. Sarah is home for the weekend and so she did the P90X3 "The Warrior" workout with me. To be honest, it always goes faster when she's there and even makes me push myself a little harder when I have someone there in person I'm trying to keep up the pace with. It was fun and I was able to make it through (with modifications)

A couple of hours later a guy came over from the newspaper to take our pictures for an article about couples who do things together. When he asked us what we did together, we told him we worked out together that morning and so, sure enough, we ended up in our workout clothes once again, working out (this time to the P90X3 MMX routine, which is sort of a boxing/tae bo/cardio-type workout) while he took pictures. We didn't do the whole thing, but we both worked up a sweat again (and nothing is quite as motivating as having someone take your picture while you work out).

After that, we ended up walking downtown together for food (which is about a 3-mile walk there and back). It was nice, although by the time we got back to the house we were exhausted and I fell asleep on the couch watching Disney's Tarzan. A good day. 

Friday, July 18, 2014

P90X3 - Week 3 (CVX)

Today I did the P90X3 CVX workout. All I used was one 3-lb weight and 15 minutes in I was sweating like crazy. It reminds me of the time Sarah said a big muscle dude came into her toning class. It was his first time and she recommended he use a light weight. Of course, being a big strong guy with something to prove to others in the class, he ignored her advice and went with the heaviest weights she had in the studio, not realizing what they were going to be doing with them.

She said by the end he was struggling and just looked a mess. He was able to deadlift a house but had probably never mixed weights and cardio before. 

Same thing here with this CVX program. You don't have to use a lot of weight to get a helluva workout (on the DVD, Tony Horton says not to use anything more than 15 lbs). I was only abot to go 20 minutes instead of the full 30, but I felt good about what I did and any time I'm drenched in that much sweat, I know I got in a good workout. 

Thursday, July 17, 2014

P90X3 Week 3 (The Challenge)

Today was P90X3 - The Warrior. It was a good day. You begin by writing down how many pushups and pull-ups you'll do in each set. It's a little intimidating when the people on the DVD are going for numbers like 40 and 20, especially when I'm going for 10 and 2, but it's something to work toward. I hit my numbers today, the first time doing so since using a real chin-up bar instead of bands, and it felt good. Tiny numbers be darned.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

P90X3 Week 3 (Yoga)

This morning I did P90X3 Yoga. Felt really nice. I don't think it did much to counter the chocolate-peanut butter milkshake I had last night (Darn you Chocolate World!), but still.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

P90X3 Week 3 (Agility X)



This morning did the first 20 minutes of the P90X3 Agility routine. It's my favorite one in the series but had to pull back at the end. 

Monday, July 14, 2014

P90X3 Week 3 (Total Synergistics)



Started week 3 of P90X3 with Core Synergistics. I'm a little frustrated this morning because I never know how my body is going to react. I started off strong, bumping my numbers up slightly from last week, and felt great. About 3/4 of the way through, though, my mystery condition suddenly kicked in and I got dizzy and nearly passed out. It's just annoying because sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't and there's never an indicator that it's on its way. I finished out the workout but had to limp through the last 10 minutes. Annoyed.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

P90X 3 Week 2 (Dynamix)



Did the P90X3 Dynamix program. Just because it's stretching doesn't mean you won't come away a sweaty mess. Loved it!

Saturday, July 12, 2014

P90X3 - Week 2 (The Warrior)



This morning did the P90X3 "The Warrior" workout. Paced myself and still ended up a sweaty mess. Good times.

Friday, July 11, 2014

P90X3 - Week 2 (CVX)



Today I did the P90X3 CVX workout. Or at least part of it. I felt good and started off strong. I think too strong. I did NOT pace myself (especially given my weird health condition) and about 10 minutes in I got all dizzy and pass out-y and had to stop. Dang it.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

P90X3 - Week 2 (The Challenge)



This morning was P90X3 "The Challenge" workout. I was able to go from doing pushups/pullups on a resistance band to using an actual bar and- go figure - it's way harder. 

Wednesday, July 09, 2014

P90X3 - Week 2 (Yoga)



Tried P90X3 Yoga today but struggled a bit. My left wrist hurt doing each vinyasa/downward dog pose. Although it didn't hurt at the time, I suspect I tweaked it during yesterday's Plyo Pushups.

Tuesday, July 08, 2014

P90X3 - Week 2 (Agility X)



Today's workout was P90X: Agility X. Crazy how much difference tape on the ground makes. Even my eyelashes are sweating.

Monday, July 07, 2014

P90X3 - Week 2 (Total Synergistics)



Today started Week #2 of P90X3 with Total Synergistics. Most of the moves are done in time with the DVD but on those that weren't, I was able to bump my numbers a bit. Soooo ready for my Shakeology. 

Saturday, July 05, 2014

P90X3 - Week 1 (The Warrior)



This morning: P90X3 "The Warrior" workout. The Warrior almost defeated me. 

Friday, July 04, 2014

P90X3 - Week 1 (CVX)



This morning I did P90X3 CVX workout, which is basically cardio with weights. Three pounds never felt so heavy before.

Thursday, July 03, 2014

Tuesday, July 01, 2014

P90X3 - Week 1 (Agility X)



P90X3 - Agility X. I had to stop a few times and take an extra breather but I (sort of) made it through. 30 minutes and sweating like a beast. Zoinks. Bring on the Shakeology.